NCAA Championship Game 2015: Star Players Who Will Decide Duke vs. Wisconsin

The stage is set, the actors determined and the stakes well known for the 2015 NCAA Championship Game. 

Wisconsin thwarted Kentucky's attempt at an undefeated championship season with a 71-64 victory in the Final Four, a brilliant, back-and-forth game between two of the better collections of talent in recent memory. 

Duke will be the Badgers' opponent Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski heads into his ninth championship game with his squad operating at peak efficiency. The Blue Devils rolled over the Michigan State Spartans, 81-61, in Saturday's first national semifinal.

While Wisconsin and Duke both rely on total team efforts to get the job done night in and night out, there are, of course, a couple of key players on each roster likely to have outsized influence on the outcome of what should be an excellent championship matchup.

Let's take a quick look at the star players who will decide this game.

Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Who else would it be for Wisconsin?

There might not be a better, more complementary big-man duo in college basketball than Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker. Their symbiotic relationship was readily apparent against Kentucky, as each player stepped up when the other's game was lacking. 

Dekker did the majority of his damage at the start and end of the semifinal, scoring five quick points early on and helping to put the game away late with an excellent sequence that included nailing a three-pointer, taking a charge and drawing a foul at the other end and sinking a free throw. 

He finished with 16 points and just three boards against Kentucky but should be able to do better on the glass against a smaller Duke lineup.

Dekker had just five points when the Badgers lost to Duke, 80-70, in December, but he insists that game was him at his near worst, per ESPNWisconsin.com's Zach Heilprin:

Frank the Tank got off to a slow start against Kentucky, but he eventually found his scoring touch with plenty of help from his silky drop-step move in the post.

He racked up 20 points against Kentucky, another fine performance in a strong tournament for him.

Round	Opponent	PTS	REB	AST	BLK
2nd	Coastal Carolina	27	12	4	2
3rd	Oregon	16	7	2	1
Sweet 16	North Carolina	19	8	2	0
Elite Eight	Arizona	29	6	1	0
Final Four	Kentucky	20	11	2	1

Kaminsky's ability to step back and hit the outside jumper makes him a matchup nightmare against most squads. If Duke puts Jahlil Okafor on him, Kaminsky might have trouble scoring inside against the equally cat-like big man. However, if he can draw Okafor away from the paint, it could set up his teammates, chief among them Dekker, for easy buckets inside.

Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Jahlil Okafor and his gigantic mitts haven't been enjoying a particularly great tournament, but the mighty freshman stepped up in a big way against Michigan State. A matchup nightmare for the Spartans, Okafor racked up 18 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the contest.

He only put up 13 points against the Badgers in December, so it's possible his team can win without him having a big game, but I'm sure the Blue Devils would rather not chance it.

His raw power can galvanize a team and an audience. Just look at this dunk from the Michigan State contest, via Bleacher Report:

While Tyus Jones was the hero for Duke the last time it played Wisconsin—22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor—it's Justise Winslow who is more likely to decide this game.

Chris Steppig/Associated Press

Like Wisconsin's dynamic duo, the lefty swingman has enjoyed a fantastic tournament thus far, notching two double-doubles and making numerous highlight-reel plays on the defensive end.

Winslow is the team's best chance at limiting Dekker, who was far from 100 percent the last time these two teams played. While Winslow gives up a height advantage to Dekker, he makes up for it with incredible athleticism.

ESPN Stats & Info noted his strangulating effect on defense against the Spartans:

Krzyzewski favored a three-guard lineup against Michigan State, with Tyus Jones, Quinn Cook and Matt Jones all starting. Winslow, whether he's on Dekker or Nigel Hayes, will be the defensive fulcrum upon which Duke tips the balance in their favor in this game.